The dollar hit a one-month high against major currencies
on Friday, and was more than four cents away from record lows
against the euro set earlier in the week, boosted by improved
sentiment on the U.S. economy.
The number of U.S. workers filing initial claims for unemployment
benefits unexpectedly fell last week, data on Thursday showed,
in a possible sign that the economy may not be in as much
trouble as previously thought.
Fed futures are now pricing in a 30 percent chance of interest
rates being held at 2.25 percent this month rather than being
cut FEDWATCH. Just over a week ago, the futures pricing was
evenly split between a 25 and a 50 basis point cut.
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"The futures market has taken a massive amount of easing
out of the market and thinks the Fed is done cutting after
next week and that's driving momentum for the dollar,"
said Derek Halpenny, currency strategist at BTM UFJ.
The dollar index, which tracks the greenback's performance
against a basket of major currencies, rose to a one-month
high of 73.021 .DXY.
By 0753 GMT the euro fell as low as $1.5586, its lowest since
April 3 <EUR=>, down around 0.5 percent on the day and
on track for its biggest monthly decline in nearly a year.
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